• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.51-63
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• 2007

Diabetic foot ulcers result from abnormal mechanical loading of the foot, such as repetitive pressure applied to the plantar aspect of the foot while walking. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy causes changes in foot structure, affecting foot function and subsequently leading to increased plantar foot pressure, which is a predictive risk factor for the development of diabetic foot ulceration. To early identify the insensitive foot makes it possible to prevent diabetic foot ulceration and to protect the foot at risk from abnormal biomechanical loading. Abnormal foot pressures can be reduced using several different approaches, including callus debridement, prescription of special footwear, foot orthosis. injection of liquid silicone, Achilles tendon lengthening, and so forth. Off-loading of the diabetic wound is a key factor to successful wound healing as it is associated with reduced inflammatory and accelerated repair processes. Pressure relief can be achieved using various off-loading modalities including accommodative dressing, walking splints, ankle-foot orthosis, total contact cast, and removable and irremovable cast walkers.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.335-339
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• 2010

Purpose: Diabetic foot ulcer with osteomyelitis is notorious with its complexity and healing difficulties. Bone biopsy is considered to be the gold standard method of guidance for antibiotic therapy. However, it is often replaced by cultures of ulcer swabs or by superficial samples because of the technical difficulties and possible adverse events. In this study, we compared microbiologic results of bone biopsy with those of superficial tissue biopsy or swab culture to investigate concordance and diagnostic value in bone involved diabetic foot ulcers. Methods: This study involved 106 patients with diabetic foot ulcers who showed positive results in bone probing test. Tissue samples for microbiologic tests were collected from all the patients by using superficial cotton swab, superficial tissue biopsy, and bone biopsy. The microbiologic results of bone biopsy were compared with swab culture and superficial tissue biopsy statistically. Results: The positive predictive value of bone probing test for underlying osteomyelitis was 82.1%. Microbiology of the bone biopsy showed same results with those of the swab culture and superficial tissue in 64% and 63%, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the microbiology of the swab culture or superficial tissue did not coincide with that of the bone biopsy. Conclusion: These results suggest that the microbiologic results of superficial tissue or swab culture do not coincide with those of bony tissue. To select appropriate antibiotic regimen for diabetic ulcer with bone involvement, the specimen for the microbiologic test should be obtained from involved bone.

• KIPS Transactions on Computer and Communication Systems
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.83-90
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• 2022

Diabetes is a common disease today, and there are also many cases of developing into serious complications called Diabetic Foot Ulcers(DFU). Diagnosis and prevention of DFU in advance is an important task, and this paper proposes the method. Based on existing studies introduced in the paper, it can be seen that foot pressure and temperature information are deeply correlated with DFU. Introduce the process and architecture of SmarTinsole, an IoT device that measures these indicators. Also, the paper describes the preprocessing process for AI-based diagnosis of DFU. Through the comparison of the measured pressure graph and the actual human step distribution, it presents the results that multiple information collected in real-time from SmarTinsole are more efficient and reliable than the previous study.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.78-86
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• 2016

Purpose: Diabetic foot ulcers are significant problems in diabetes mellitus and often result in lower extremity amputation. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a self-care management program on Korean patient's self-efficacy, self-care behavior, size of the wound, and wound related pain. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study of pre-test and post-test design in a non-equivalent control group. The intervention strategies of the self-care management program consisted of individual intervention (education, practice and demonstration), computer animation, and face-to-face counseling. There were thirty seven patients, and 20 were assigned to the experimental group while the other 17 were assigned to the control group. The experimental group was given a self-care management program. The control group received information on diabetic mellitus care by means of a leaflet. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, a chi-square test, an independent t-test, and a Mann-Whitney test. Results: There were significant differences in self-care behavior and wound related pain. Conclusion: A Self-care program is an effective way to increase patient's self-care ability. This program is highly applicable to diabetic foot ulcer patients in various settings.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT) and the resultant amputation rate in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer. Material and methods: From 2000 Jan. to 2002 April, thirty two diabetic foot patients were admitted for treatment of foot ulcers and infection. Of the thirty two cases, thirteen patients received HBOT and nineteen did not. The results were analyzed by amputation rate and healing time. All were classified according to the Wagner classification. Results: Of the HBOT treated group, three(23%) patients underwent amputation: two below knee and one metatarsophalangeal disarticulations. Of the non-treated group, eleven(58%) patients underwent amputation, : four below knee and seven metatarsophalangeal disarticulations. The healing times, based on hospital days were average 16, 38, 43 days in the HBOT treated group and average 20, 50, 35 days in the non treated group respectively in Wagner grade II, III, IV. Conclusions: HBOT might be effective in decreasing amputation rate and hospital stay in diabetic patients with severe foot ulcers.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.148-155
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• 2020

Purpose: Minor foot amputations are performed for recurrent or infected ulcers or osteomyelitis of the diabetic feet. Patients may require a large amount of bone resection for wound closure. On the other hand, this results in more foot dysfunction and a longer time to heal. The authors describe fillet flap coverage to avoid more massive resection in selected cases. This study shows the results of fillet flap coverage for the closure of diabetic foot minor amputation. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective case series of patients who underwent forefoot and midfoot amputation and fillet flap for osteomyelitis or nonhealing ulcers between March 2013 to November 2017. In addition, the patient comorbidities, hospital days, complications, and duration to complete healing were evaluated. Results: Fourteen fillet flap procedures were performed on 12 patients. Of those, two had toe necrosis, nine had forefoot necrosis, and three had midfoot necrosis. Eleven forefoot amputations and three midfoot amputations were performed. Among forefoot necrosis after a fillet flap, three patients had revision surgery for partial necrosis of the flap, and two patients had an additional amputation. Two patients had additional amputations among those with midfoot necrosis. By the fillet flap, the amputation size was reduced as much as possible. The mean initial healing days, complete healing days, and hospital stay was 70.6 days, 129.0 days, and 60.0 days, respectively. Conclusion: The fillet flap facilitates restoration of the normal foot contour and allows salvage of the metatarsal or toe.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2023

An aging population and changes in dietary habits have increased the incidence of diabetes, resulting in complications such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). DFUs can lead to serious disabilities, substantial reductions in patient quality of life, and high financial costs for society. By understanding the etiology and pathophysiology of DFUs, their occurrence can be prevented and managed more effectively. The pathophysiology of DFUs involves metabolic dysfunction, diabetic immunopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and angiopathy. The processes by which hyperglycemia causes peripheral nerve damage are related to adenosine triphosphate deficiency, the polyol pathway, oxidative stress, protein kinase C activity, and proinflammatory processes. In the context of hyperglycemia, the suppression of endothelial nitric oxide production leads to microcirculation atherosclerosis, heightened inflammation, and abnormal intimal growth. Diabetic neuropathy involves sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathies. The interaction between these neuropathies forms a callus that leads to subcutaneous hemorrhage and skin ulcers. Hyperglycemia causes peripheral vascular changes that result in endothelial cell dysfunction and decreased vasodilator secretion, leading to ischemia. The interplay among these four preceding pathophysiological factors fosters the development and progression of infections in individuals with diabetes. Charcot neuroarthropathy is a chronic and progressive degenerative arthropathy characterized by heightened blood flow, increased calcium dissolution, and repeated minor trauma to insensate joints. Directly and comprehensively addressing the pathogenesis of DFUs could pave the way for the development of innovative treatment approaches with the potential to avoid the most serious complications, including major amputations.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.177-183
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to examine the incidence of pressure ulcers and associated factors, by inspecting the skin of newborn babies in a newborn unit or newborn intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: The participants were 101 newborn babies in either a newborn unit or NICU in D general hospital. The incidence of pressure ulcer was measured using the skin inspection tool for pressure ulcer, suggested by Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Results: Incidence rate of pressure ulcer was 19.8%, and 80% of the newborns with pressure ulcers were premature babies. The commonest region of onset was the ear (36.8%), followed by the foot (31.6%), occipital region (15.8%) and knee (15.8%). Those are the regions related to external medical devices like nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Pulse Oximetry. Factors related to pressure ulcers were gestational period of 37 weeks or less, hospitalization for 7 days or more, birth weight under 2,500 g and a low level of serum albumin. Conclusion: The results of the study show that the skin and underlying tissues of premature infants is at risk for pressure-related skin breakdown. As most pressure ulcers are caused by medical devices, nursing interventions are required to prevent further aggravation of the lesions.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.482-489
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• 2017

Background Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is known to have anti-inflammatory and angiogenic effects and to accelerate wound healing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PDRN could improve peripheral tissue oxygenation and angiogenesis in diabetic foot ulcers. Methods This was a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. Twenty patients with a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer were randomly distributed into a control group (n=10) and a PDRN group (n=10). Initial surgical debridement and secondary surgical procedures such as a split-thickness skin graft, primary closure, or local flap were performed. Between the initial surgical debridement and secondary surgical procedures, 0.9% normal saline (3 mL) or PDRN was injected for 2 weeks by the intramuscular (1 ampule, 3 mL, 5.625 mg, 5 days per week) and perilesional routes (1 ampule, 3 mL, 5.625 mg, 2 days per week). Transcutaneous oxygen tension ($TcPO_2$) was evaluated using the Periflux System 5000 with $TcPO_2/CO_2$ unit 5040 before the injections and on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the start of the injections. A pathologic review (hematoxylin and eosin stain) of the debrided specimens was conducted by a pathologist, and vessel density (average number of vessels per visual field) was calculated. Results Compared with the control group, the PDRN-treated group showed improvements in peripheral tissue oxygenation on day 7 (P<0.01), day 14 (P<0.001), and day 28 (P<0.001). The pathologic review of the specimens from the PDRN group showed increased angiogenesis and improved inflammation compared with the control group. No statistically significant difference was found between the control group and the PDRN group in terms of vessel density (P=0.094). Complete healing was achieved in every patient. Conclusions In this study, PDRN improved peripheral tissue oxygenation. Moreover, PDRN is thought to be effective in improving inflammation and angiogenesis in diabetic foot ulcers.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2001

Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious complication which result from long-standing diabetes. Especially, severe infected diabetic foot ulcer results in unwanted lower extremity amputation. The diabetic patient is considered the relative contraindication for microsurgery because of the severe peripheral vascular disease. Recently, microvascular free tissue transfer technique applied to diabetic foot ulcer. It is well known that free tissue transfer provides immediate soft tissue coverage and control of infection. So it is possible that preservation of the lower extremity through free tissue transfer. A retrospective study of diabetic patients who had infected foot ulcer from 1999 to 2000 with foot defects reconstructed with free tissue transfer were reviewed. Thirteen patients were studied with mean follow-up of 12.7 months. There were two deaths during follow-up period. There were two failures after free flap surgery. All eleven survived patients were ambulatory. There was no recurrence of ulcer. No patient need amputation above the ankle joint. We have found that free tissue transfer for infected diabetic foot ulcer is very effective surgical technique. Careful patient selection and regular follow-up is important.